‘Impediment to growth’

Despite being located along NH-8 and the availability of space here being at a cost much less than that in Gurgaon, Manesar and the nearby areas have few takers, thanks to the barrier that the Kherki Daula toll plaza poses. About five million square feet of ready-to-use first-rate space is available here, but the regular nuisance that the toll creates spoils it all.

It’s not about money and time but the whole uncertainty that the ill-managed toll plaza throws — which is painful. One is never sure about how much time would be needed to cross toll gates. It is very difficult for a person to plan his/her day.

If the Kherki Daula toll goes, there will be trickle-down benefits for areas in the vicinity and beyond. People will be more comfortable about commuting and areas around Manesar will see a spurt in urban activities.

In late 1980s, it used to take me 30 minutes to reach my college in Delhi University’s South Campus from Old Gurgaon. Today, with the expressway there, it takes much more time to commute the same stretch.

The idea of having toll plazas has been a disaster ever since they first made appearance in India in the early 1990s. The toll system has attracted public protests the world over.

The government already charges the public direct and indirect tax. These taxes are supposed to be used for infrastructure. The practice of taking toll from motorists is flawed. The least that the government can do is to offer tax waiver on the amount people spend on paying toll.